Bitch Hug 2012

Kristin is an 18-year-old who writes for her school newspaper and keeps a big bucket list—a thousand things she wants to do before she dies. The very first item on that list is to visit New York City, and this dream colors her days even as her relationship with her sister Linn is strained, with Linn telling Kristin she’s “pathetic with no talent.”

After graduating gymnasium, Kristin is assigned to cover her upcoming trip to New York. The night before the flight, at a graduation party, she crosses paths with Gustav. They end up at Gustav’s house in the woods for a private moment, but their plans are interrupted when Neo asks to be tucked in. With the moment spoiled, Kristin explores the house and meets Andrea, a 16-year-old who’s just back from a nightly run through the woods. The two strike up a conversation while they drink strong alcohol, and Andrea persuades Kristin to watch “half a movie,” since Kristin has to leave for New York in two hours. The plan goes awry as both of them end up sleeping through the remainder of the film, and Gustav accidentally shuts off Kristin’s alarm. In a panic, Kristin hurries toward the airport but misses the flight, returning to Andrea who is emotionally crushed by the setback.

Kristin tries to reschedule, but the airline can only rebook her if another passenger cancels. She first heads home, but realizing everyone assumes she’s already headed to New York, she asks [Andrea] to hide her in Andrea’s house to avoid public humiliation. During a house tour, Kristin jokes to [Andrea] by the pool that Andrea and Gustav—and their parents—once had sex there. In retaliation, [Andrea] pushes Kristin into the pool, revealing that Kristin can’t swim. [Andrea] then lets Kristin stay in the attic, while the parents are away. Under pressure to publish her “trip,” Kristin agrees to fake the journey with [Andrea]’s help, and the two begin to forge a wary friendship.

On the “trip,” Kristin sets out with [Andrea] and [Gustav] to check off some of the thousand activities. They linger away from home for too long, forcing [Gustav] to skip his shift at work to help care for their younger brother, [Neo]. When Kristin complains that their parents are too casual about leaving them alone, [Gustav] reveals a deeper truth: their parents are dead. The next night, [Andrea], assuming everyone is asleep, runs along her usual path to a cliff overlooking the city and the fjord. Kristin follows, pleading for honesty, and [Andrea] opens up about being an orphan and quitting school because of unwanted attention—an admission that underlines the idea that no one truly understands another’s inner feelings except the person themselves.

At a midsummer party hosted by [Gustav], Kristin and [Andrea] hide away in the attic and throw a small, intimate gathering. Linn unexpectedly makes an appearance, and [Andrea] hides from the risk of being recognized, fearing that Linn might identify her from a video chat as the French exchange student Kristin is supposedly staying with in New York. The two flee through a hole in the roof and linger by the fjord, but the approaching party forces Kristin to try to swim away through the cold water of the fjord. She drowns briefly but is saved by [Andrea], who remains by her side.

Word soon spreads that the New York trip was a hoax, and rumors swirl that Kristin survived a dangerous scare and even attempted suicide after being caught. The editor-in-chief of the school paper forgives the incident, noting that the controversy boosted sales and suggesting Kristin write about both the lie and a real trip. He even hands her a flight ticket to New York. Throughout this upheaval, the friendship between Kristin and [Andrea] strains under pressure.

Linn stages a surprise welcome-home party for Kristin after she’s released from the hospital, with friends in attendance. Andrea attends, hoping to repair their relationship, but Kristin remains emotionally distant. In a moment of pain and confrontation, Andrea shares a night of drinking with Kristin’s ex-boyfriend in the bathroom, which Kristin later discovers; she accuses Andrea of implying that their bond wasn’t real. Hurt, Kristin returns to the party in tears while [Andrea] is picked up by Gustav, and Andrea expresses a desire to resume her education with support.

To mend things, Kristin buys a window to cover the attic roof’s hole and hands Andrea her diary, signaling a renewed trust. She admits she no longer wants to visit New York because the experience with Andrea feels more real than the lie. Yet [Andrea] convinces Kristin to take the trip anyway.

The next day, Kristin and [Andrea] share a final hug before Kristin boards the flight to New York. As the plane takes off, [Andrea] watches and looks back, not seeing Kristin ascend the escalator again. On the ride home, the taxi driver asks about Kristin’s journey, and [Andrea] simply answers, “Very.”